HE'S HAD to adjust to "a few knees to the neck", but Sam Reid feels his new role and his current run of games are helping him zero in on top form for the Sydney Swans.
The past 12 months have been a frustrating period for Reid, with a persistent quad problem ruining the back half of his 2013 campaign before an Achilles flare up forced him to miss another month earlier this year.
Since returning from that Achilles issue, he has strung five games together, his best run since playing 12 consecutive matches, starting in the 2012 finals.
He is also developing into the Swans' 'Mr Versatile', a player that can take marks and kick goals in the forward line, drop back into defence or take his 196cm, 95kg frame into the ruck.
It's a rare luxury in the AFL.
Harry Taylor, Lachie Henderson, James Frawley and Essendon duo Michael Hurley and Jake Carlisle are among players that can also play a swing man role for their clubs.
But of that quintet, only Carlisle has spent any meaningful time in the ruck this year, making Reid an extra rare breed.
And the 22-year-old is relishing it.
"I'm really enjoying it," Reid told AFL.com.au. "It's a really good challenge.
"It's important to have versatile players that can play at either end of the ground or in the middle.
"I'm hopefully becoming one of those players that can be really dangerous whether I go forward, go back or in the ruck.
"I'd like to keep doing it. It's pretty rare. It's probably only starting to come into the game now.
"It can throw a bit of a spanner in the works and is a good weapon to have."
As it can be with many players, confidence is a recurring issue for Reid.
When he is fit and firing and having an extended run in the team, it ceases to be a concern.
But when injuries strike or he has a quiet game, his head can drop and it can take time to rediscover his feel for the game.
In form, Reid has some of the best hands in the business, illustrated by his match-saving grab in the goalsquare in last year's draw with Fremantle at the SCG.
While rucking can take a toll physically, Reid has also found pinch-hitting for Mike Pyke or Tom Derickx has helped his confidence.
He has had his hands full this year with ruckmen the calibre of David Hale, Patrick Ryder, Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson, but it's a position he is happy to take on.
"In my first year in the reserves I played three or four games in the ruck, just because our stocks were pretty low," he said.
"I'm probably not capable of a flat-out ruck role, but I've been pinch-hitting and moving up the ground and having a bit more freedom is something I enjoy and something that can help my game.
"I've copped a few knees to the neck and head, but I am enjoying it.
"I'm just going to keep going forward and try to get better and better at it."
Reid's bread and butter, however, is lining up alongside Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes in the AFL's most feared forward set-up.
When Tippett went down with a knee injury against Gold Coast last week, Reid shifted deep into the forward line and responded with three goals in a brilliant seven-minute stretch.
His form is particularly pleasing for coach John Longmire.
"We expect him to play a versatile role for us now," Longmire said.
"He's been pretty good for us in the ruck and he's been able to play as a high half-forward or a deep forward and we know he can go back.
"To have that flexibility with a guy his size and speed and discipline is really important.
"We like the way he's going."
Next up is a huge game against ladder-leaders Port Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday.
Reid toes the company line when he says the third-placed Swans prepare for all opposition the same way.
But pushed a little further, he conceded this one could have a little extra spice.
"It does add a bit more motivation if it is a top-four team," he said.
"You really want to get out there and get after them."
